The trade deadline is upon us, and the Los Angeles Dodgers are reuniting with an old friend, acquiring right-handed reliever Brock Stewart in a trade with the Minnesota Twins, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. Outfielder James Outman is part of the return package, per Alden Gonzalez of ESPN. This move is intended to shore up a weary bullpen, which has struggled in recent days. In addition, Michael Kopech, Evan Phillips, Brusdar Graterol, and Tanner Scott are all out with injuries. Not to mention, Scott and Kirby Yates have had disappointing seasons thus far.
Report: Dodgers Get Brock Stewart in Trade with Twins
The Los Angeles Dodgers are finalizing a deal to acquire right-handed reliever Brock Stewart from the Minnesota Twins, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 31, 2025
Old Friend Alert
If Stewart’s name sounds familiar, it’s because he came up through the Dodger organization. Earlier in his career, he was a starter, but he has turned himself into a high-quality reliever, thanks to an uptick in his velocity. The right-hander has a five-pitch mix with a 95 mph fastball, changeup, and a sweeper. His arsenal misses bats, which is reflected in a 30% strikeout rate, while only walking 8% of batters. Stewart also has the ability to avoid hard contact. His 2.38 ERA across 38 innings has earned him trust in high-leverage situations. Ideally, he is suited for the seventh or eighth innings. The fact that he has 14 holds and only lost one lead so far this season underscores his effectiveness. It looks like he may be the perfect set-up man.
Proceed With Caution
If there is one red flag, it’s Stewart’s health. The reliever has not pitched beyond 40 innings in a while. He has not made it through an entire season in seven years. He was put on the injured list earlier this year with a hamstring strain, but has managed to stay healthy otherwise. If he can, he would bolster a bullpen with an ERA north of four.
Brock Stewart may not be the answer that Dodger fans were looking for, but if he manages to stay healthy and effective, all their questions will be moot.
Main Photo Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
